Word forms: plural micelanguage note: The plural mouses can be used for meaning [sense 2].
1. countable noun
A mouse is a small furry animal with a long tail.
...a mouse running in a wheel in its cage.
...the problem of rats and mice.
2. countable noun
A mouse is a device that is connected to a computer. By moving it over a flat surface and pressing its buttons, you can move the cursor around the screen and do things without using the keyboard.
3. game of cat and mouse
mouse in British English
noun (maʊs)Word forms: pluralmice (maɪs)
1.
any of numerous small long-tailed rodents of the families Muridae and Cricetidae that are similar to but smaller than rats
See also fieldmouse, harvest mouse, house mouse ▶ Related adjective: murine
2.
any of various related rodents, such as the jumping mouse
3.
a quiet, timid, or cowardly person
4. computing
a handheld device used to control the cursor movement and select computing functions without keying
5. slang
a black eye
6. nautical another word for mousing
verb (maʊz)
7.
to stalk and catch (mice)
8. (intransitive)
to go about stealthily
9. (transitive) nautical
to secure (a hook) with mousing
Derived forms
mouselike (ˈmouseˌlike)
adjective
Word origin
Old English mūs; compare Old Saxon mūs, German Maus, Old Norse mūs, Latin mūs, Greek mūs
mouse in American English
(maʊs; for v., also maʊz)
nounWord forms: pluralmice
1.
any of a large number of small, widespread rodents belonging to various families and having small ears and a long, thin tail, esp., a species (Mus musculus) that commonly infests buildings
2.
a. Rare
a girl or young woman
a term of endearment
b.
a timid or spiritless person
3. Slang
a dark, swollen bruise under the eye; black eye
4. US, Computing
a small, hand-held device that is moved about on a flat surface in front of a video screen in such a way as to move or position the cursor or part of the display
verb intransitiveWord forms: moused or ˈmousing
5.
to hunt for or catch mice
6.
to seek about or search for something busily and stealthily
verb transitive
7.
to hunt for
8. Obsolete
to tear or rend as a cat does a mouse
Word origin
ME mous < OE mus, akin to Ger maus < IE *mūs, a mouse > Gr mys, L mus, mouse & musculus, muscle; (sense 4) < the shape, motions required for use, and trailing tail-like cord ofthe earliest devices